Compressor valve assembly

ABSTRACT

A compressor valve assembly comprising a guard body member and a seat body member that cooperate to form a valve chamber and to define flow passages extending through the valve that are disposed in intersecting relation with the valve chamber. The seat body portion of the valve defines seating surfaces that are engaged by a pair of ring closure elements that are urged into seating relation with the seat surfaces by spring elements. A plurality of guide elements are retained within a guide retaining groove formed in the guard member and are disposed between the ring closure elements and serve to guide both of the ring closure elements during movement thereof. The guide elements also serve to properly position the ring closure elements in the closed position thereof to obstruct the flow of fluid through a valve assembly. Each of the guide elements comprises a strip of wear and heat resistant resilient sheet material bent back upon itself to define curved elongated portions adapted for guiding engagement with peripheral guide surfaces formed on the ring closure elements. The guide elements are structured to cooperate with the guard element in such manner that lateral movement of the guide elements is prevented during operation of the valve. The free extremities of the elongated portions of the guide elements may be curved away from the respective ring closure member thereby presenting a rounded surface to the ring closure member that prevents excessive wear and provides effective guiding.

United States Patent 1 Schwaller Feb. 5, 1974 COMPRESSOR VALVE ASSEMBLY Bernard L. Schwaller, 28 Hedwig Cir., Houston, Tex. 77055 Filed: May 11, 1972 Appl. No.: 252,367

Inventor:

US. Cl. 267/151 Int. Cl F16f 3/02 Field of Search.... 267/151, 160, 158, 159, 164

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,507,486 4/1970 Schwaller 267/151 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 635,155 7/1963 Belgium 267/160 Primary Examiner-James B. Marbert secting relation with the valve chamber. The seat body portion of the valve defines seating surfaces that are engaged by a pair of ring closure elements that are urged into seating relation with the seat surfaces by spring elements. A plurality of guide elements are retained within a guide retaining groove formed in the guard'member and are disposed between the ring closure elements and serve to guide both of the ring closure elements during movement thereof. The guide elements also serve to properly position the ring closure elements in the closed position thereof to obstruct the flow of fluid through a valve assembly. Each of the guide elements comprises a strip of wear and heat resistant resilient sheet material bent back upon itself to define curved elongated portions adapted for guiding engagement with peripheral guide surfaces formed on the ring closure elements. The guide elements are structured to cooperate with the guard element in such manner that lateral movement of the guide elements is prevented during operation of the valve. The free extremities of the elongated portions of the guide elements may be curved away from the respective ring closure member thereby presenting a rounded surface to the ring closure member that prevents excessive wear and provides effective guiding.

13 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEU FEB 51974 SHEET 1 [1F 2 PATENTEB FEB 5 I974 SHEEI 2 OF 2 COMPRESSOR VALVE ASSEMBLY FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to compressor valve assemblies and more particularly to compressor valve assemblies incorporating a plurality of ring closure ele ments disposed in substantially concentric relation and serving to provide unidirectional flow of fluid through the valve assembly. More specifically the invention is directed to the provision of a plurality of guide elements serving to guide reciprocal movement of the ring closure elements during operation of the valve and further serving to properly position the ring closure element into proper seating engagement with seat surfaces defined within the valve assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Compressors such as air compressors and the like are typically provided with check valve assemblies separating the compression side of the compressor mechanism from the suction side thereof. Valves commonly employed in gas compressors to provide unidirectional flow into and out of the compressor are well known in the art. Such valves typically control the flow of fluid by reciprocal movement of concentric ring closure elements, also referred to as seat rings or check valve rings, which are capable of movement between a sealing position, where the rings seat on machine seating surfaces defined witin the valve body to an open position where the rings are displaced from sealing engagement with the seating surfaces by pressure deferential to permit the flow of fluid through flow passages extending through the valve assembly. Movement of the ring closure elements to the closed position thereof is typically accomplished by means of springs or other suitable elements disposed within the valve assembly that function to urge the ring closure elements into sealing engagement with the seating surfaces defined within the valve body. The pressure of the fluid against the ring closure elements opens the valve by moving the rings back against the resistance of the springs. Conversely, the flow of fluid in the opposite direction only'serves to assist the springs in movement of the ring closure elements into tight sealing engagement with the seating surfaces.

- The rings move against the resistance of the springs until the rings contact a second stopping surface or stop. The total distance traversed by the rings in linear movement from a position against the seating surface, closing the valve, to a position against the opposite stopping service is known as the lift of the valve.

Compressors of this nature typically operate at 300 to 1000 revolutions or cycles per minute, and may subject the compressor valves to extremely high pressures and temperatures. At such compression speeds, the movement of the closure rings against the seating and stopping surfaces is extremely rapid and under high pressure the rings are caused to slam into the seating and stopping surfaces at high speed and with great force. Such rapid high velocity reciprocation of the ring closure elements may cause deterioration of the ring closure elements by impacting of the same against the seating and stopping surfaces under high temperature conditions which deterioration may be effectively retarded by providing spring assemblies that may be of the nature set forth in U. S. Pat. No. 3,507,486.

Rapid reciprocation of the ring closure elements tends to cause severe wear between the ring closures and guide surfaces that are typically defined by machined guide surfaces within the guard portion of the compressor valve housing. When the clearance between the ring closures and the guide surfaces becomes excessive, valve operation will be adversely affected because of improper sealing of the ring closure elements and therefore the compressor will not function efficiently. Valve misalignment caused by improper clearances has the tendency to accelerate wearing of the sealing surfaces, the ring closure elements and the closure guiding surfaces, which may result in rapid deterioration of the entire compress-or valve assembly requiring complete replacement thereof.

Ordinarily, the valve guide surfaces are machined within a guard portion of the valve housing structure and the ring closure elements are matched with the guide surfaces in such manner as to promote efficient valve operation. Because of the problem of distortion encountered during hardening operations, it is typical for most valve housings to be left. unhardened thereby causing the guide surfaces to be relatively soft and not especially wear resistant which allows wear to develop rapidly. Moreover, some of the housing structures may be cast or otherwise formed of metal alloys that are relatively soft and are not conducive to hardening processes. Excessive wearing of the guide surfaces allows excessive shifting of the ring closure elements and thereby greatly accelerates valve operating efficiency.

Since the ring closure guide surfaces are typically machined within the guard portion of the valve housing, it may become necessary to replace the entire guard portion when the guide surfaces become suffi' ciently worn that excessive lateral or vertical movement of the ring closure elements may occur. Alternatively, it may be necessary to provide replacement ring closure elements of different peripheral dimension and to remachine the guide surfaces within the guard casting when repair becomes necessary due to excessive wear. Obviously either of these methods of repairing the compressorvalve assembly is quite expensive and time consuming. If the housings are hardened by heat treating after being machined to provide wear resistant seating and guiding surfaces, it will be difficult and perhaps impractical to remachine the housings during repair operations.

' Because of the expensive nature of most repair operations that could be conducted to improve valve operating efficiency caused by wear of the guide surfaces ring closure elements, stop surfaces, etc., it is typically the case for compressors with worn valves to be operated for extended periods of time with the worn valve parts. Operation of worn compressor valves obviously produces compressor operation, of deteriorating efficiency when the compressor valves have deteriorated to the extent that the eff ciency of the compressor is severely impaired, the valves are replaced. Replacement of entire valve assemblies is obviously quite expensive.

Another undesirable feature of compressor valve assemblies, having permanently machined guide surfaces formed therein, is the expense of machining during original manufacture of the valve guard and seat portions of the housing structure. Expensive machining operations, such as milling, for example are typically employed to form the guide surfaces within the guard portion of the valve housing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a novel compressor valve assembly incorporating cast or machined compressor valve guard and seat body portions cooperating to define a valve chamber and to define flow passages extending through the valve assembly in intersecting relation with the valve chamber. A plurality of ring clo- .sure elements are movably disposed within the valve chamber for sealing engagement with seating surfaces, defined by the seat body portion, to control the flow of fluid through the valve assembly during operation of the compressor. A plurality of ring closure guide elements that may be composed of extremely hard material having resilient characteristics may be retained by the guard body portion of the housing and may present wear resistant guiding surfaces for engagement with peripheral guiding surfaces formed on the ring closure elements. The guide elements cooperate with the guard body structure in such a manner that lateral movement of the guide elements is restricted. The guide elements are entrapped by cooperating structural elements of the guard body and seat body thereby positively assuring retention of the guide elements in substantially fixed relation with the housing structure and in operative guiding relation with the ring closure elements of the compressor valve assembly.

Accordingly, it is a primary feature of the present invention to provide a novel compressor valve assembly having guide elements that may be wear and corrosion resistant, thereby promoting extended useful service life of such compressor valve assembly even when the compressor valve assemblies are operated in a corrosive environment.

Itis another feature of the present invention to provide a novel compressor valve assembly incorporating guide elements that may be simply and easily removed from the valve assembly without aid of special tools or equipment in the event repair or replacement of the same should become necessary.

Another feature of the present invention is to provide a novel compressor valve assembly incorporating a plurality of guide elements that may cooperate structurally with the guide and seat body portions of the compressor valve assembly to provide effective guiding capability during movement of the ring closure elements of the compressor valve assembly and to positively locate the ring closure elements in the seating position thereof.

It is an even further object of the present invention to provide a novel compressor valve assembly including ring closure guide elements that present curved guide surfaces for engagement with at least one peripheral surface of each of the ring closure elements to provide for optimum guiding and seating of the ring closure elements.

Among the several objects of the present invention it is noted the contemplation of a novel compressor valve assembly incorporating a plurality of guide elements that are retained in assembly with the compressor valve assembly by friction to promote ease of assembly and are structurally interlocked with the compressor valve housing when in assembly to prevent lateral shifting of the guide elements during operation of the compressor with which the valve is associated.

It is an even further object of the present invention to provide a novel compressor valve assembly incorporating guide elements that are constructed of corrosion and heat resistant material and are capable of withstanding adverse temperature and pressure conditions without becoming softened to the point that its wear resistant qualities might be impaired.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a novel compressor valve assembly incorporating guard and seat body portions that may be reused without being remachined in the event repair of the valve assembly should become necessary.

It is an even further object of the present invention to provide a novel compressor valve assembly that need not be composed of exceptionally hard material and may be repaired without necessitating remachining of the housing of the valve assembly.

Other and further objects of the invention will become obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In order that the manner in which the above recited advantages and objects of the invention are attained, as well as others, which will become apparent, can be understood in detail, more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to a specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings, which drawings form a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore, are not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an enlarged sectional view of a compressor valve assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention and illustrating the parts thereof in detail.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2--2 in FIG. 1 illustrating positioning of the guide elements within the guard body portion of the compressor valve assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the compressor valve assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating association of one of the guide elements of the compressor valve assembly with a web defined between arcuate openings defined in the guard body portion of the valve assembly.

FIG. 4 is an isometric pictorial illustration of one of the guide elements of FIGS. 1 and 2..

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a guide element representing a modified embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a guide element representing an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a guide element representing a further modified embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings and first to FIG. 1, a sectional view of a compressor valve assembly is illustrated, which compressor valve assembly is constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention. The compressor valve assembly, illustrated generally at 16, comprises a guard body portion 112 that is disposed in engagement with a seat body portion 141 and cooperates therewith to define the housing portion of the valve assembly. The guard body and seat body portions of the valve assembly further cooperate to define an annular valve chamber 16 that is intersected by a plurality of apertures 18 defined in the seat body portion M and a plurality of apertures 26 formed in the guard body portion 12 that cooperate to define flow passages through the valve assembly.

The seat body portion M may be provided with seating surfaces 22 and 23, disposed about the apertures 18, against which may be seated at least one and preferably a plurality of ring closure elements such as are depicted at 24 and 26 in FIG. 1. The ring closure elements 24 and 26 are adapted for reciprocation between a closed position, shown in FIG. 1, wherethe ring closure elements are disposed in sealed engagement with the seating surfaces 22, to an open position where the upper surfaces of the ring closure elements are disposed in engagement with a stop surface 26, defining apart of the upper wall of the valve chamber 16.

The ring closure elements 24 and 26 may be urged into seating engagement with the seating surfaces 22 by a spring assembly 36 that may, if desired, be of the nature set forth in U. S. Pat. No. 3,507,486. As shown in FIG. 2, the guard body portion 12 may be provided with a plurality of spring recesses 32 each being provided to retain a spring assembly 36 that is so positioned relative to the ring closure elements that each of the spring assemblies makes contact with two adjacent ring closure elements urging them into sealing engagement with the annular seating surfaces 22 and 23 of the seat body M.

As a reduced pressure condition typically referred to as suction is communicated through the apertures 26 to the upper surfaces of the ring closure elements 24 and 26, pressure differential created across the ring closure elements, by positive pressure being exerted on the lower surfaces of the ring closure elements, will impart forces to the ring closure elements tending to move them upwardly toward the open position thereof. The spring assemblies 36 oppose forces tending to move the ring closure elements to the open position thereof and thereby retard the velocity of opening movement of the ring closure elements as the rings are moved or lifted" to the open position against the stopping surface 28 defined by the guard body portion 112. The ring closure elements lift until they make contact with the stop surface 28 and compress each of the spring assemblies 36 within the spring recesses 32. The lift" of the valve is defined as the distance that the ring closure elements travel from the position of sealing engagement with the seating surfaces 22 and 23 to the full open position where the ring closure elements are disposed in contact with the stopping surface 28.

As the direction flow through the valve assembly attempts to reverse, the spring assemblies 36, acting in conjunction with the reversed flow of fluid, will urge the ring closure elements 24 and 26 to the closed position thereof, establishing sealed engagement with the seating surfaces 22 and 23 of the seat body portion 14. It is therefore apparent that the ring closure elements serve as check valves to allow unidirectional flow of fluid through the valve assembly.

The guard body portion 12 and the seat body portion 14 of the valve assembly 16 may be retained in substantially integral assembly with the seat body portion by a threaded stud element 36 received within threaded bores 36 and 36 defined within the guard and seat body portions, respectively. The threaded stud 36 may be threadedly received within either the guard or seat body portion and the opposite portion of the valve assembly may be rotated thereby causing the threaded stud to draw the internally threaded guard and seat body portions into tight assembly. Although such assembly of the valve may be accomplished simply by counter-rotating the guard and seat portions of the valve assembly, such portions of the valve assembly will not become separated by vibration during operation of the compressor mechanism with which the valve assembly may be associated.

It is intended that the threaded stud method connection, illustrated in FIG. ll not be taken as limiting the spirit and scope of the present invention it being obvious that the guard and seat portions of the valve body may be held in assembly by any other suitable means, such as peripheral clamps, for example.

The guard body portion 12 and the seat body portion 114 of the valve assembly may be provided with threaded blind bores 46 and 62, respectively, that may threadedly receive bolts serving to retain discharge and suction housings if employed with. such or serving to receive threaded extractor apparatus that may be employed to remove a valve assembly from a compressor.

Referring now particularly to FIG. 2, illustrating the compressor valve mechanism of FIG. 1 in section, the guard body portion 12 of the valve assembly 16 may be machined to define a generally circular groove 52 coinciding with the arcuate apertures 26. The generally circular groove 52 cooperates with a plurality of webs 54 defined between the arcuate apertures 26 to define a plurality of recesses or pockets within which may be retained a plurality of guide elements 56. Each of the pockets may be defined by inner and outer curved walls 56 and 66, respectively, cooperating with a substantially planar supporting wall 62. The guide elements 56 will be retained within the pockets defined by circular groove 52 by being disposed in tight friction locked engagement with the curved surfaces 56 and 66 and being disposed in supporting engagement with the planar supporting surfaces 62, essentially as depicted in FIG. 3. The inner periphery of the outer ring closure element may be of substantially the same dimension as the outer peripheral wall 66 of the groove 52 while the outer periphery of the inner ring closure element may be of the same dimension as the dimension of the inner peripheral wall 56.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 6, each of the guide elements, illustrated generally at 56, comprises a pair of curved elongated inner and outer portions 66 and 66, respectively, that are connected at one extremity by an integral connecting portion 66.. The guide elements may be formed of a strip of resilient metal having exceptional wear characteristics, which strip may be bent back upon itself in the manner shown. The elongated curved portion 66 may be formed to correspond to the curvature of the inner periphery of the outer ring closure element 24!- while the elongated curved portion 68 may be formed to coincide with the curvature of the outer periphery of the inner ring closure element 26. Likewise, the elongated curved portions 66 and 68 may be of conforming configuration to the inner and outer peripheral walls 66 and 62 defining the generally circular groove 52. The guide elements, in the uncompressed condition thereof, will be of greater width than the width of groove 52. Insertion of the guide elements into the groove may be accomplished by compressing the guide portions toward one another and inserting the compressed guide element into proper relation within the pocket defined by the groove and web. The guide element then may be released, whereupon it will expand into tight engagement with the peripheral surfaces of the groove 52. The spring-like characteristic of the material, from which the guide elements may be composed, will cause the elongated portions 64 and 66 of the guide elements to be urged tight friction engagement with the wall 60 and 62, respectively, thereby frictionally retaining the guide elements in substantially locked relation with the structure of the guard body portion of the compressor valve assembly. It should be born in mind, however, that friction assembly of the guide elements to the guard portion of the housing is employed only to facilitate ease of assembly of the valve. When in assembly within the valve housing, the guide elements will be interlocked with the housing structure to prevent movement of the guide elements.

During operation of the compressor, substantial vibration is typically created that may have a tendency to cause the guide elements to shift laterally within the valve assembly even though the guides may be retained by frictional engagement as discussed above. Such shifting is, of course, undesirable and, therefore, it will be desirable to provide means for stabilizing the guide elements relative to the guard body portion of the compressor valve assembly. Accordingly, one acceptable means for preventing shifting of the guide elements within the valve assembly may conveniently take the form illustrated in FIG. 4 where the lower portion of the guide element 56 is shown to be cut away in such a manner that a plurality of depending flanges 70 and 72 are formed and are disposed on either side of the web 54 as illustrated in FIG. 3. When the guard body portion and seat body portion of the compressor valve assembly are drawn into intimate engagement, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the supporting surface 62 defined by the annular groove formed within the guard body will prevent sufficient vertical movement of the guide elements to allow the depending flanges 70 and 72 to clear the web 54. The depending flanges therefore cooperate with the web 54 and with the support surface 62 to substantially entrap the guide elements and thereby prevent lateral shifting of the guide elements relative to the guard body portion of the valve assembly. It will not be possible for the guide elements to shift within the valve housing and interfere with proper operation of the various movable parts of the valve assembly even if adverse operating conditions such as excessive heat and/or pressure should distort either the guide elements or the valve housing structure to the point that the guide become loose within the pockets defined by the annular groove 52.

With reference now to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7 various acceptable modifications of the guide elements are illustrated, but it is not intended that these modifications be considered limiting because it may be practical to employ the spirit and scope of the present invention in other acceptable structural embodiments. In FIG. a guide element is depicted, generally at 80, which guide element may include a curved guide portion 82 of substantial length and relatively short curved guide portion 84 connected to guide portion 82 by an integral connecting portion 86. As shown in broken lines, the guide portion 82 may be recessed at the lower portion thereof in such manner as to define a groove, of the nature shown in FIG. 4, within which may be received the web portion of the valve guard body structure. The groove formed in the guide element structure effectively defines depending flanges, such as those shown at and 72 in FIG. 4, that are received on either side of the web and which cooperates with the web to prevent lateral shifting of the guide elements within the valve body structure.

The free extremity 88 of the longer curved guide portion 82 may be further curved inwardly, away from the inner peripheral guide surface of the outer ring closure element, thereby preventing the ring closure element from being contacted by an abrupt or angulated surface that might otherwise cause accelerated wear of the inner periphery of the ring closure element. The free extremity 88 may, if desired, be curved inwardly to approximately the same degree that the opposite extremity of the elongated curved portion 82 is curved to define the reverse bent connecting portion 86. This feature effectively causes the guide surfaces of the ring closure element and the guide element to be smoothly transitioned into guiding contact thereby preventing the development of structural interference between the guide surfaces.

The relatively short guide portion 84 may be curved to conform to the outer periphery of the inner ring closure element and may be supported throughout its length by the web of the guard body portion of the compressor valve assembly. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the elongated arucate openings 20 terminate in curved extremities. To prevent unnecessary obstruction of the flow passages of the valve construction, the inner guide portion of the guide element may be shortened to the point that it does not extend into the flow passage defined by the arcuate opening, thereby promoting operating efficiency of the valve construction. The curved free extremities of the guide element also serves to properly position the depending flanges of the guide within the curved extremity of the arcuate opening.

The structure set forth in FIG. 5 defines only two depending flanges at the lower extremities of portions 86 and 88 which serve to cooperate with the web to limit lateral movement of the guide structure relative to the valve assembly.

In FIG. 6 there is disclosed an alternative embodiment of the guide element of the compressor valve assembly, illustrated generally at 90, and having inner and outer elongated curved portions 92 and 94 that are interconnected by an integral connection portion 96. As shown by broken lines, the lower extremity of the guide element may be cut away in such manner as to define three depending guide flanges that may be received on either side of the web, essentially as described above in connection with FIG. 4, to prevent lateral movement of the guide element relative to the guard body portion of the compressor valve assembly. The free extremities 98 and 100 of elongated curved elements 92 and 94 may be curved toward one another thereby providing guiding surfaces that are smoothly transitioned at the point of contact with the ring closure elements. Such smooth transition prevents accelerated wear between the contacting surfaces of the ring closure elements and the guide element. If desired, the

free extremities 98 and 100 may be turned toward one another to essentially the same degree of curvature as is defined at the opposite extremity of the curved portions 92 and 94 by the connecting portion 96.

A further embodiment of the guide closure element is illustrated generally at 102 in FIG. 7 which includes guide portions 102 and 106 that may be interconnected by an integral curved connecting portion 108. As illustrated in broken lines FIG. 7 the lower portion of the guide element may be cut away essentially as illustrated in FIG. 4 to define depending guide flanges that may be received on either side of a web of the guard body to restrict lateral movement of the guide element.

Each of the guide elements, illustrated in FIGS. 3-7, may be composed of any suitable material that may be of spring-like characteristic for retaining the guide elements and assembly within the annular groove of the guard body. It is also desirable that the material from which the guide elements are composed, have exceptional wear characteristics and be exceptionally resistant to corrosion and erosion thereby assuring efficient operation of the compressor valve assembly over long periods of time. It may also be desirable that the guide elements be composed of material having exceptional resistance to heat thereby allowing the compressor valve construction to perform effectively for long periods of time under high temperature conditions.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that l have provided a novel compressor valve assembly incorporating guide elements that may be simply and efficiently retained within the compressor valve assembly and that may be extremely wear resistant thereby promoting extended useful service life of the compressor valve assembly. The guide elements of my invention are so constructed as to define arucate guide surfaces of proper configuration for guiding engagement with pe ripheral guide surfaces defined on the ring closure ele ments of the valve structure. The guide elements are associated with the ring closure elements in such manner that smoothly transitioned cooperating guiding surfaces are presented for guiding contact. Wear producing characteristics such as abrupt or angular surfaces, for example, that might otherwise promote excessive wear, are effectively eliminated.

The guide elements of my invention are simply installed and easily removed from the valve assembly without aid of special tools or equipment in the event repair or replacement of the same should become necessary. When either the guide elements or the ring closure elements becomes worn, such structures may be replaced quite easily and inexpensively and it does not become necessary to replace the seat or guide body portions of the valve construction or to remachine the seat or body castings.

My invention makes effective use of a plurality of singular guide elements that function to provide guiding surfaces of different curvature for effectively guiding both the inner and outer ring closure elements of a compressor valve assembly. Moreover such guide elements may be manufactured simply and inexpensively by bending a strip of appropriate sheet material back upon itself to define first and second elongated curved lid element and the inner peripheral surface of the outer ring closure element.

The guide elements are retained within the compres sor valve construction by friction developed by the tendency by the guide elements to expand beyond the width of a circular groove within which they are retained. The guide elements may be removed simply by compressing the curved guiding surfaces toward one another sufficiently to release frictional contact thereof with the circular groove and by simply withdrawing the guide elements from the circular groove. It is therefore seen that my invention is one well adapted to attain all of the objects and advantages hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which will become obvious and inherent from a description of the apparatus itself. it will be understood that certain combinations and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the present invention.

As many possible embodiments may be made of this invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matters hereinabove set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limit ing sense.

I claim:

l. A compressor valve assembly comprising:

seat means defining annular seat surface means:

guard means having inner and outer guard portions having guide retainer surfaces defined thereby and having a plurality of web portions interconnecting said inner and outer guard portions and defining a plurality of apertures cooperating with said seat means to define a plurality of flow passages through said valve assembly, said web portions and said guide surface means defining guide retaining means;

a pair of ring closure means being disposed for engagement with said seat surface means to control flow through said flow passage means;

yieldable means urging said ring closure means into seating engagement with said seat surface means; and

a plurality of ring closure guides for properly positioning said ring closure means during seating engagement and guiding said ring closure means during movement thereof, said guides being seated on said web portions and defining arcuate guide surface means disposed for guiding engagement with a peripheral surface of said ring closure means, said guide surface means having frictional engagement with said guide surface means.

2. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim ll:

said guides each being composed of strip material bent back upon itself to define first and second elongated portions having free extremities, said elongated portions being connected by an integral connecting portion; and

at least one of said elongated portions being curved to a degree corresponding to the curvature of the associated periphery of said ring closure means.

3. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 2:

at least one of said free extremities of said elongated portions being curved away from said associated periphery of said ring closure means.

4. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 2:

said ring closure means comprising a pair of generally concentrically disposed ring closures each having guide contacting peripheral surfaces; and

said free extremities of said elongated portions being curved away from the adjacent one of said guide contacting peripheral surfaces.

5. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 1:

said guide means having spaced movement limiting elements formed thereon and being disposed in engagement with opposed sides of said connecting web means, and locking said guide means against lateral movement relative to said guard means.

6. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 1:

said inner and outer guard portions and said guide retainer surfaces defining a generally annular groove;

said seat surface means being generally circular seat surfaces defined on either side of said annular groove;

said ring closure means being inner and outer ring closures disposed in generally concentric relation; and

said guides being interposed between said inner and outer ring closures and being disposed in guiding relation with the outer periphery of the inner ring closure and with the inner periphery of the outer ring closure.

7. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 6:

said guides each being composed of strip material bent back upon itself to define first and second elongated guide portions having free extremities, said elongated guide portions being connected by an integral connecting portion; and

at least one of said elongated guide portions being curved to a degree corresponding to the curvature of the associated peripheries of said inner and outer ring closures.

8. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 7:

at least one of said free extremities of said elongated guide portions being curved away from said periphery of said ring closure means.

9. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 7:

said free extremities of said elongated portions being curved away from the adjacent one of said periph eries of said inner and outer ring closures.

10. A compressor valve assembly comprising:

seat means having flow apertures formed therein,

said seat means defining generally circular seat surfaces intersected by said flow apertures;

guard means having inner and outer guard portions having guide surfaces defined thereby and having a plurality of web portions interconnecting said inner and outer guard portions and defining a plurality of apertures, said guard means cooperating with said seat means to define flow passage means through said valve assembly and defining guide retaining means;

a pair of ring closure elements being disposed within said valve assembly for engagement with said seat surfaces to control flow through said flow passage means; I

yieldable means urging said ring closure means into seating engagement with said seat surfaces; and

a plurality of ring closure guides being seated on said web portions and being frictionally retained by said guide surfaces, said guides being disposed between said pair of ring closure elements for guiding engagement with the outer periphery of the inner ring closure element and the inner periphery of the outer ring closure element, said guides presenting curved guiding surfaces corresponding to the curved configuration of the respective peripheral surfaces of the ring closure elements.

11. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim said guides each being composed of strip material bent back upon itself to define first and second elongated portions having free extremities, said elongated portions being connected by an integral connecting portion; and

at least one of said elongated portions being curved to a degree corresponding to the curvature of the associated periphery of at least one of said ring closure elements.

12. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim said free extremities of said elongated portions being curved away from the adjacent one of said peripheries of said ring closure elements.

13. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim said guide retaining means being generally circular groove means formed in said guard means and intersecting said web portions and defining inner and outer generally cylindrical guide support walls;

said guide means being received within said groove means and being frictionally retained by said guide support walls and being in engagement with said web portions;

said ring closure elements being circular planar elements disposed in substantially concentric relation, each ring closure element having inner and outer peripheral surfaces, said inner periphery of said outer ring closure element and the outer periphery of said inner ring closure element being of substantially the same dimensions respectively as the dimensions of the outer and inner peripheral walls of said groove means. 

1. A compressor valve assembly comprising: seat means defining annular seat surface means: guard means having inner and outer guard portions having guide retainer surfaces defined thereby and having a plurality of web portions interconnecting said inner and outer guard portions and defining a plurality of apertures cooperating with said seat means to define a plurality of flow passages through said valve assembly, said web portions and said guide surface means defining guide retaining means; a pair of ring closure means being disposed for engagement with said seat surface means to control flow through said flow passage means; yieldable means urging said ring closure means into seating engagement with said seat surface means; and a plurality of ring closure guides for properly positioning said ring closure means during seating engagement and guiding said ring closure means during movement thereof, said guides being seated on said web portions and defining arcuate guide surface means disposed for guiding engagement with a peripheral surface of said ring closure means, said guide surface means having frictional engagement with said guide surface means.
 2. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 1: said guides each being composed of strip material bent back upon itself to define first and second elongated portions having free extremities, said elongated portions being connected by an integral connecting portion; and at least one of said elongated portions being curved to a degree corresponding to the curvature of the associated periphery of said ring closure means.
 3. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 2: at least one of said free extremities of said elongated portions being curved away from said associated periphery of said ring closure means.
 4. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 2: said ring closure meaNs comprising a pair of generally concentrically disposed ring closures each having guide contacting peripheral surfaces; and said free extremities of said elongated portions being curved away from the adjacent one of said guide contacting peripheral surfaces.
 5. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 1: said guide means having spaced movement limiting elements formed thereon and being disposed in engagement with opposed sides of said connecting web means, and locking said guide means against lateral movement relative to said guard means.
 6. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 1: said inner and outer guard portions and said guide retainer surfaces defining a generally annular groove; said seat surface means being generally circular seat surfaces defined on either side of said annular groove; said ring closure means being inner and outer ring closures disposed in generally concentric relation; and said guides being interposed between said inner and outer ring closures and being disposed in guiding relation with the outer periphery of the inner ring closure and with the inner periphery of the outer ring closure.
 7. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 6: said guides each being composed of strip material bent back upon itself to define first and second elongated guide portions having free extremities, said elongated guide portions being connected by an integral connecting portion; and at least one of said elongated guide portions being curved to a degree corresponding to the curvature of the associated peripheries of said inner and outer ring closures.
 8. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 7: at least one of said free extremities of said elongated guide portions being curved away from said periphery of said ring closure means.
 9. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 7: said free extremities of said elongated portions being curved away from the adjacent one of said peripheries of said inner and outer ring closures.
 10. A compressor valve assembly comprising: seat means having flow apertures formed therein, said seat means defining generally circular seat surfaces intersected by said flow apertures; guard means having inner and outer guard portions having guide surfaces defined thereby and having a plurality of web portions interconnecting said inner and outer guard portions and defining a plurality of apertures, said guard means cooperating with said seat means to define flow passage means through said valve assembly and defining guide retaining means; a pair of ring closure elements being disposed within said valve assembly for engagement with said seat surfaces to control flow through said flow passage means; yieldable means urging said ring closure means into seating engagement with said seat surfaces; and a plurality of ring closure guides being seated on said web portions and being frictionally retained by said guide surfaces, said guides being disposed between said pair of ring closure elements for guiding engagement with the outer periphery of the inner ring closure element and the inner periphery of the outer ring closure element, said guides presenting curved guiding surfaces corresponding to the curved configuration of the respective peripheral surfaces of the ring closure elements.
 11. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 10: said guides each being composed of strip material bent back upon itself to define first and second elongated portions having free extremities, said elongated portions being connected by an integral connecting portion; and at least one of said elongated portions being curved to a degree corresponding to the curvature of the associated periphery of at least one of said ring closure elements.
 12. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 11: said free extremities of said elongated portions being curved away from the adjacent one of said peripheries of said riNg closure elements.
 13. A compressor valve assembly as recited in claim 10: said guide retaining means being generally circular groove means formed in said guard means and intersecting said web portions and defining inner and outer generally cylindrical guide support walls; said guide means being received within said groove means and being frictionally retained by said guide support walls and being in engagement with said web portions; said ring closure elements being circular planar elements disposed in substantially concentric relation, each ring closure element having inner and outer peripheral surfaces, said inner periphery of said outer ring closure element and the outer periphery of said inner ring closure element being of substantially the same dimensions respectively as the dimensions of the outer and inner peripheral walls of said groove means. 